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37 Alvin Toffler Quotes That Are So Relevant

Famous As: American Writer, Businessman and One of the World’s Outstanding Futurists
Born On: October 4, 1928
Died On: June 27, 2016
Born In: New York, New York, United States
Died At Age: 87

Alvin Toffler was a renowned American futurist, author, journalist and educator, famous for his elaborate discourses on digital and communication revolutions. He compared the exponential growth of modern technologies with subsequent cultural impacts worldwide. His involvement with the Fortune magazine as a co-editor fuelled his first major success ‘Future Shock’, which went on to become a best seller, with over 6 million copies. In this book, he famously stated that the illiterates of tomorrow wouldn’t be the one who cannot read, but the ones who haven’t learnt to unlearn. He cemented his designation as a legend of this genre of writing by releasing The Third Wave, Revolutionary Wealth and Powershift: Knowledge, Wealth and Violence at the Edge of the 21st Century. Apart from receiving fellowship from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Ellis was presented with McKinsey Foundation Book Award, Officier de L'Ordre des Arts et Lettres and Brown University's Independent Award. We have collected Alvin Toffler’s quotes and sayings from his writings, speeches, observations etc. Zoom through quotes from this iconic futurist from America.

The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.

The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.

Alvin Toffler
Our technological powers increase, but the side effects and potential hazards also escalate.

Our technological powers increase, but the side effects and potential hazards also escalate.

Alvin Toffler
If you don't have a strategy, you're part of someone else's strategy.

If you don't have a strategy, you're part of someone else's strategy.

Alvin Toffler
The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.

The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.

Alvin Toffler
No serious futurist deals in prediction. These are left for television oracles and newspaper astrologers.

No serious futurist deals in prediction. These are left for television oracles and newspaper astrologers.

Alvin Toffler
We must search out totally new ways to anchor ourselves, for all the old roots religion, nation, community, family, or profession are now shaking under the hurricane impact of the accelerative thrust.

We must search out totally new ways to anchor ourselves, for all the old roots religion, nation, community, family, or profession are now shaking under the hurricane impact of the accelerative thrust.

Alvin Toffler
Nobody knows the future with certainty. We can, however, identify ongoing patterns of change.

Nobody knows the future with certainty. We can, however, identify ongoing patterns of change.

Alvin Toffler
Man has a limited biological capacity for change. When this capacity is overwhelmed, the capacity is in future shock.

Man has a limited biological capacity for change. When this capacity is overwhelmed, the capacity is in future shock.

Alvin Toffler
The great growling engine of change - technology.

The great growling engine of change - technology.

Alvin Toffler
The biggest tragedy I had was the loss of my daughter from neuromuscular disease in 2000, at age 46.

The biggest tragedy I had was the loss of my daughter from neuromuscular disease in 2000, at age 46.

Alvin Toffler
You can use all the quantitative data you can get, but you still have to distrust it and use your own intelligence and judgment.

You can use all the quantitative data you can get, but you still have to distrust it and use your own intelligence and judgment.

Alvin Toffler
You’ve got to think about big things while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.

You’ve got to think about big things while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.

Alvin Toffler
It is better to err on the side of daring than the side of caution.

It is better to err on the side of daring than the side of caution.

Alvin Toffler
Future shock is the shattering stress and disorientation that we induce in individuals by subjecting them to too much change in too short a time.

Future shock is the shattering stress and disorientation that we induce in individuals by subjecting them to too much change in too short a time.

Alvin Toffler
One of the definitions of sanity is the ability to tell real from unreal. Soon we'll need a new definition.

One of the definitions of sanity is the ability to tell real from unreal. Soon we'll need a new definition.

Alvin Toffler
Technology feeds on itself. Technology makes more technology possible.

Technology feeds on itself. Technology makes more technology possible.

Alvin Toffler
People of the future may suffer not from an absence of choice but from a paralysing surfeit of it. They may turn out to be victims of that peculiarly super-industrial dilemma: overchoice.

People of the future may suffer not from an absence of choice but from a paralysing surfeit of it. They may turn out to be victims of that peculiarly super-industrial dilemma: overchoice.

Alvin Toffler
The next major explosion is going to be when genetics and computers come together. I'm talking about an organic computer - about biological substances that can function like a semiconductor.

The next major explosion is going to be when genetics and computers come together. I'm talking about an organic computer - about biological substances that can function like a semiconductor.

Alvin Toffler
Parenthood remains the greatest single preserve of the amateur.

Parenthood remains the greatest single preserve of the amateur.

Alvin Toffler
Profits, like sausages... are esteemed most by those who know least about what goes into them.

Profits, like sausages... are esteemed most by those who know least about what goes into them.

Alvin Toffler
To think that the new economy is over is like somebody in London in 1830 saying the entire industrial revolution is over because some textile manufacturers in Manchester went broke.

To think that the new economy is over is like somebody in London in 1830 saying the entire industrial revolution is over because some textile manufacturers in Manchester went broke.

Alvin Toffler
A library is a hospital for the mind.” 

- Anonymous

A library is a hospital for the mind.” - Anonymous

Alvin Toffler
Change is not merely necessary to life - it is life.

Change is not merely necessary to life - it is life.

Alvin Toffler
The Law of Raspberry Jam: the wider any culture is spread, the thinner it gets.

The Law of Raspberry Jam: the wider any culture is spread, the thinner it gets.

Alvin Toffler
A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study.” 

- Chinese proverb

A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study.” - Chinese proverb

Alvin Toffler
Most managers were trained to be the thing they most despise - bureaucrats.

Most managers were trained to be the thing they most despise - bureaucrats.

Alvin Toffler
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” 

- Chinese proverb

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” - Chinese proverb

Alvin Toffler
The future always comes too fast and in the wrong order.

The future always comes too fast and in the wrong order.

Alvin Toffler
The illiterate of the 21st Century are not those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.

The illiterate of the 21st Century are not those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.

Alvin Toffler
We futurists have a magic button. We follow every statement about a failed forecast with 'yet.'

We futurists have a magic button. We follow every statement about a failed forecast with 'yet.'

Alvin Toffler